LeBron James vs. Don Nelson Comparison
Head-to-head comparison between the NBA stars Don Nelson and LeBron James that includes championships won, honors and awards obtained, regular season and playoffs stats and other data put side by side.
Who scored more points in his career? Who averaged more points in playoffs? Who won more championships? Who led the season more times? Who won more MVP awards? These questions and many more, are answered here. It includes NBA Championships, seasons, playoffs, awards, statistical data for points, rebounds, assists, steals, blocks and percentages.
Head-To-Head Career Comparison
|
NBA Timeline: |
1946-47
2023-24
  |
LeBron James:
2003-04 to 2023-24
|
  |
Don Nelson:
1962-63 to 1975-76
|
|
Honors and Awards |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| LeBron James | 1 |
|
 |
| Don Nelson | 0 | |
| |
| LeBron James | 1 |
|
|
| Don Nelson | 0 | |
| |
| LeBron James | 1 |
|
|
| Don Nelson | 0 | |
| |
| LeBron James | 1 |
|
* |
| Don Nelson | 0 | |
* | |
| LeBron James | 1 |
|
* |
| Don Nelson | 0 | |
* | |
|
* Notes: In-Season Tournament (NBA Cup) played since 2023-24.
Finals MVP and Defensive Teams awarded since 1968-69. |
NBA Regular Season Stats |
Stats Per Game |
| LeBron James |
27.1 | | |
| Don Nelson |
10.3 | | |
|
| LeBron James |
7.5 | | |
| Don Nelson |
4.9 | | |
|
| LeBron James |
7.4 | | |
| Don Nelson |
1.4 | | |
|
| LeBron James |
1.5 | | |
| Don Nelson |
0.3 | |   *
|
|
| LeBron James |
0.7 | | |
| Don Nelson |
0.1 | | *
|
|
Totals Stats |
| LeBron James |
40,474 | | |
| Don Nelson |
10,898 | | |
|
| LeBron James |
11,185 | | |
| Don Nelson |
5,192 | | |
|
| LeBron James |
11,009 | | |
| Don Nelson |
1,526 | | |
|
| LeBron James |
2,275 | | |
| Don Nelson |
65 | | *
|
|
| LeBron James |
1,111 | | |
| Don Nelson |
35 | | *
|
|
| LeBron James |
1,492 | | |
| Don Nelson |
1,053 | | |
|
Percentages |
| LeBron James |
.506 | | |
| Don Nelson |
.480 | | |
|
| LeBron James |
.348 | | |
| Don Nelson |
- | |  n/a **
|
|
| LeBron James |
.736 | | |
| Don Nelson |
.765 | | |
|
Best Season (no game minimum) |
| LeBron James |
31.4 | | (2006) | |
| Don Nelson |
15.4 | | (1970) | |
|
| LeBron James |
8.6 | | (2018) | |
| Don Nelson |
7.3 | | (1970) | |
|
| LeBron James |
10.2 | | (2020) | |
| Don Nelson |
2.3 | | (1972) | |
|
| LeBron James |
2.2 | | (2005) | |
| Don Nelson |
0.4 | | (1975) | *
|
|
| LeBron James |
1.1 | | (2009) | |
| Don Nelson |
0.2 | | (1975) | *
|
|
NBA Playoffs Stats |
Stats Per Game |
| LeBron James |
28.4 | | |
| Don Nelson |
10.5 | | |
|
| LeBron James |
9.0 | | |
| Don Nelson |
4.8 | | |
|
| LeBron James |
7.2 | | |
| Don Nelson |
1.4 | | |
|
| LeBron James |
1.7 | | |
| Don Nelson |
0.3 | | *
|
|
| LeBron James |
1.0 | | |
| Don Nelson |
0.1 | | *
|
|
Totals Stats |
| LeBron James |
8,132 | | |
| Don Nelson |
1,577 | | |
|
| LeBron James |
2,574 | | |
| Don Nelson |
719 | | |
|
| LeBron James |
2,056 | | |
| Don Nelson |
210 | | |
|
| LeBron James |
479 | | |
| Don Nelson |
13 | | *
|
|
| LeBron James |
275 | | |
| Don Nelson |
7 | | *
|
|
| LeBron James |
286 | | |
| Don Nelson |
150 | | |
|
Percentages |
| LeBron James |
.497 | | |
| Don Nelson |
.498 | | |
|
| LeBron James |
.332 | | |
| Don Nelson |
- | | n/a **
|
|
| LeBron James |
.741 | | |
| Don Nelson |
.817 | | |
|
Best Playoffs (no game minimum) |
| LeBron James |
35.3 | | (2009) | |
| Don Nelson |
15.4 | | (1975) | |
|
| LeBron James |
11.3 | | (2015) | |
| Don Nelson |
7.5 | | (1968) | |
|
| LeBron James |
9.0 | | (2018) | |
| Don Nelson |
2.4 | | (1975) | |
|
| LeBron James |
2.3 | | (2016) | |
| Don Nelson |
0.4 | | (1974) | *
|
|
| LeBron James |
1.8 | | (2010) | |
| Don Nelson |
0.2 | | (1975) | *
|
|
|
Notes: * Blocks and steals started to be recorded in 1973-74. Some years in this player's career don't have stats.
** Three-point shots were implemented in 1979-80, this player has no data for the stat. |
